Chapter 13 Social Psychology

1. Chapter 13 Social Psychology

2. Chapter Preview Social Cognition Social Behavior Social Influence Intergroup Relations Close Relationships Social Psychology and Health and Wellness

3. Social Psychology the study of how people think about, influence, and relate to other people social cognitions social influences social relations

4. Social Cognition How do people select, interpret, remember, and use social information? Person Perception • physical attractiveness -“Beautiful is good” stereotype - self-fulfilling prophecy - composite faces, symmetry, and youthfulness • first impressions

5. Social Cognition Attributions …explanations for why people behave the way they do Attribution Theory …attempt to discover underlying causes of behavior - internal/external causes - stable/unstable causes - controllable/uncontrollable causes

6. Social Cognition Attribution Errors • observers often explain actors’ behaviors incorrectly • fundamental attribution error - overestimate the importance of internal traits - underestimate the importance of external causes • actors often explain own behavior in terms of external causes

7. Fundamental Attribution Error

8. Social Cognition Heuristics …cognitive shortcuts that speed decision making • stereotypes • false consensus effect - overestimating the degree to which everyone else thinks or acts the way we do - use our outlook to predict that of others

9. The Self as a Social Object Self-Esteem • positive illusions – views of ourselves that are not necessarily rooted in reality • self-serving bias – tendency to take credit for success and deny responsibility for failure • self-objectification – tendency to see oneself primarily as an object in the eyes of others

10. Social Cognition Stereotype Threat • a self-fulfilling fear about being judged on the basis of a negative stereotype about our group Social Comparison • process by which we evaluate our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and abilities in relation to other people • social comparison theory

11. Attitudes Attitudes are beliefs about people, places, and ideas. Can attitudes predict behavior? …when attitudes are strong …when attitudes are rehearsed …when person has vested interest Can behavior predict attitudes? …cognitive dissonance and self perception

12. Cognitive Dissonance Theory Discomfort caused by two dissonant thoughts • thoughts of ones attitude v. ones behavior Dissonance reduced by • changing behaviors to match attitude • changing attitudes to match behavior

13. Self-Perception Theory Individuals make inferences about their own attitudes by perceiving their own behavior, especially if their attitudes are unclear. Both cognitive dissonance and self-perception theory explain the connection between attitudes and behavior.

14. Attitudes and Behavior

15. Persuasion The Communicator(credibility) - trustworthiness, expertise, attractiveness, likeability, similarity Medium(television versus print) The Target(age, attitude, strength) Message(rational versus emotional strategy) - elaboration likelihood model: central & peripheral routes

16. Persuasion Successful Persuasion • foot-in-the-door technique • door-in-the-face technique Resisting Persuasion • inoculation

17. Social Behavior • we behave in social ways toward the people around us • two extremes of human social activity… - altruism - aggression

18. Prosocial Behavior • Altruism …an unselfish interest in helping someone else • Egoism …helping others for personal enhancement (e.g., to ensure reciprocity)

19. Prosocial Behavior • Explanations of Altruism • evolutionary • psychological factors • mood • empathy • sociocultural factors • market economies • investment in established religion • gender

20. Prosocial Behavior • The Bystander Effect • Darley and Latané (1968) • individuals are less likely to help in an emergency when others are present • diffusion of responsibility • Media Influence

21. Aggression • Biological Influences • evolutionary views • genetic basis • neurobiological factors • limbic system and frontal lobes of brain • low levels of serotonin • testosterone

22. Aggression • Psychological Influences • aversive circumstances • -frustration • - weather, physical pain, crowding • cognitive determinants • - priming • - perception of unfairness • observational learning

23. Aggression • Sociocultural Influences • cultural variations • culture of honor • media violence • television • violent pornography • violent video games

24. Aggression • Reducing Aggression • decrease rewards • lessen exposure • encourage empathy • monitor adolescents’ activity

25. Social Influence: Conformity Asch’s Experiment (1951) • factors that contribute to conformity - informational social influence - normative social influence Cognitive Neuroscience • fMRI images - when women found others disagreed, they responded as mistakes

26. Social Influence: Conformity

27. Social Influence: Obedience Milgram’s Experiments (1965, 1974) • factors that contribute to disobedience - disobedient models - authority figure not legitimate or not close by - victim made to seem more human • ethical concerns regarding Milgram - deception

28. Social Influence: Obedience

29. Group Influence Deindividuation • erosion of personal identity and responsibility • anonymity Social Contagion • spread of behavior, emotions, and ideas Group Performance • social facilitation: arousal with well-learned tasks • social loafing: reduced accountability

30. Group Decision Making Risky Shift • group decisions are riskier than average individual decisions Group Polarization • discussion strengthens the individual’s position

31. Group Decision Making Groupthink • group harmony • impaired decision making and avoidance of realistic appraisal • symptoms of groupthink • avoiding groupthink Majority-Minority Influence • majority: normative and informational pressure • minority: informational pressure

32. Intergroup Relations • Group Identity -us versus them • Social Identity - define ourselves in terms of group membership • Social Identity Theory - in-groups versus out-groups • Ethnocentrism - favoring one’s own group over other groups

33. Social Identity

34. Prejudice • an unjustified negative attitude toward a group and its members • explicit versus implicit racism • explanations for prejudice • competition between groups • cultural learning • motivation to enhance self-esteem • limitations in cognitive processes

35. Stereotyping and Prejudice Stereotype …a generalization about a group Discrimination …an unjustified negative or harmful action How can relationships between ethnic groups be improved?

36. Stereotyping and Prejudice Improving Interethnic Relations Contact Only is Not Effect Works best if groups: - think they are of equal status - feel an authority figure approves positive relations - anticipate emergent friendship - engage in cooperative tasks Sherif’s robbers cave study Aronson’s jigsaw classroom

37. Sherif’s Robbers Cave Study

38. Close Relationships Attraction • proximity - mere exposure effect - promise of acquaintanceship • we like those who like us • similarity - consensual validation

39. Close Relationships: Love Romantic Love • passionate love • sexuality and infatuation Affectionate Love • companionate love • deep caring affection

40. Close Relationships: Love Social Exchange Theory • fair exchange of “goods” • minimize costs, maximize benefits Investment Model • factors in stability of relationship - commitment to partner - investment in relationship - lack of attractive alternatives

41. Social Psychology and Health and Wellness Social Ties and Health • isolation and mortality • social support and coping Fighting Loneliness • join activities with others • act pleasant • get help

42. Chapter Summary Describe the influences on people’s perceptions and attributions of others. Identify how people are influenced in social settings. Discuss inter-group relations. Explain the nature of close relationships. Describe social processes affecting health and wellness.

43. Chapter Summary Social Psychology • study of how we think about, influence, and relate to other people Social Cognition • person perception • attribution and the fundamental attribution error • heuristics • self-esteem • attitudes – cognitive dissonance/self perception

44. Chapter Summary Persuasion Prosocial Behavior • altruism • bystander effect • media influence Aggression • biological influences • psychological influences • sociocultural influences

45. Chapter Summary Social Influence • conformity – Asch’s study • obedience – Milgram’s study • group influence -deindividuation, social contagion, group performance - group decision making Intergroup Relations • social identity • prejudice and stereotyping

46. Chapter Summary Close Relationships • attraction – proximity and similarity • romantic (passionate) love • affectionate (companionate) love • social exchange theory and investment model Social Psychology and Health and Wellness • social ties and health